Neal McMillin

What led you to pursue a Master of Marine Affairs?

In order to influence policy, I realized that I needed to become an expert in a specific sphere of the environment. I’ve long wanted to live near the ocean, so marine affairs sounded like the dream.

Why did you choose UW’s SMEA for graduate school?

In a word, Seattle. Besides the locale, I knew I could pursue policy investigations on cutting-edge renewable energy projects thanks to UW’s standing as a world-class environmental research center and SMEA’s human dimensions focus.

What are you writing your thesis about and why? If you haven’t decided, what do you think you might write about and why?

My thesis is part of the Sustainability of Tidal Energy project at UW. I will compare the policy regimes in Washington State and the UK to see how to get early tidal prototypes into the ocean for device testing.

What has been your favorite class at UW so far? Why?

My favorite course was the Puget Sound Field Class. Every Friday, we loaded up in vans to encounter local ocean policy issues from salmon canning to urban beaches to restoration projects. I learned what it means to work environmentally.

What do you like most about SMEA?

I like the academic freedom and the ‘cohort’ of students it attracts. I can find support for any area of the marine world that I want to research. The student community is interested in a host of different issues and areas – sea turtles to orcas, art to energy. We are a vibrant group.

What’s it like to live in Seattle? What do you do in your spare time?

Seattle offers an ideal lifestyle for a graduate student. With the bike trails, the international or ‘locovore’ food, the mountain vistas and seascapes, the vibe of the downtown with the quiet of the university, the neighborhood identity, the coffee, and even the mist – graduate research in Seattle is fun.

If you could design your ultimate job after graduating, what would it be and why?

I’d like to be a project manager for the marine energy industry. Ideally, I would help the engineers navigate the tangle of policy, community, and environment issues to responsibly and quickly develop their renewable energy.

What is your favorite form of marine life, and why?

Seabirds don’t get enough respect. What’s not to love about puffins, shags, gannets, or oystercatchers? Ravens love the SMEA building. They rock, too.

Visit the the UW College of the Environment website for an article and accompanying video featuring Neal.